April 1, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Admissions Hosts Open House, April 15

by

The following message is from the Office of Admissions.

Tomorrow, April 15, UMW will host its final prospective student open house for the academic year. During this event, nearly 300 students and their families will be on campus. Activities will run from 8:45 a.m. until 2 p.m., and we know you will extend a warm welcome as these students and families experience Mary Washington first-hand. 

The day begins with an Academic and Student Services Showcase and a welcome from President Paino. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with faculty, staff, and students throughout the day in a variety of ways. Many of our guests are just beginning their college search process.

Please know that experiencing campus dining is a part of the day for our guests. Expect to see increased guest presence at the Top of the UC from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We hope you will offer assistance if guests look confused. Or consider other dining options if a larger crowd is not ideal for you.

And we encourage you to show your spirit and wear your Mary Wash pride.

Many thanks.

Melissa Yakabouski, Director of Undergraduate Admissions

University Staff Council Accepting Committee Nominations

by

The University Staff Council is currently accepting nominations for three University committees: University Staff Council, University Budget Advisory Committee, and James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee. So that our representation reflects all parts of the UMW community we invite you to nominate a deserving colleague(s) or yourself.

  • University Staff Council – seven (7) openings: (six (6) Classified, one (1) Wage – three-year terms). The USC continues to advocate for staff concerns and partner with faculty and administration to tackle issues and build community. We want our representation to reflect all parts of our UMW community and nominations are open to all staff members across campus and at all UMW-affiliated organizations.
  • University Budget Advisory Committee – a Faculty Council committee – three (3) openings (one-year term). Budget/Finance experience is preferred but not required. One available opening is reserved for a non-Finance staff member. UBAC works with campus leadership on short and long-term University budget priorities. These priorities are reviewed, summarized, and presented annually to the UMW President.
  • James Farmer Multicultural Center Advisory Committee – a Faculty Council committee – one (1) opening (one-year term). The committee works with the Director and staff of the JFMC on planning and setting priorities, enhancing opportunities for multicultural learning through student programming and leadership development opportunities for all students.

Please nominate a deserving colleague(s) or yourself through the following link: Committee Nominations. Or you can copy/paste the following URL into your browser https://umw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5arS0e8RX3KK7jw. Visit the USC webpage for more information about the elections and USC activities.

Nominations will close on April 26, 2022, for all three committees. All nominees will be contacted to accept their nomination prior to voting. Voting is scheduled May 3 through May 14.

All UMW community members – staff and faculty – are encouraged to nominate eligible UMW staff members for these committee positions.

 

 

Davidson Pens Articles for Leading Academic Journals and National Security Publications

by

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson with his book, "America's Entangling Alliances: 1787 to the Present."

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson with his book, “America’s Entangling Alliances: 1787 to the Present.”

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson’s article “The 2021 G20 and Italy” (co-authored with Carla Monteleone of the University of Palermo) was just published in the academic journal Contemporary Italian Politics:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23248823.2022.2047255

An essay Dr. Davidson wrote for the national security publication War on the Rocks on NATO after the Ukraine War has also been published: https://warontherocks.com/2022/04/the-end-of-strategic-cacophony-the-russo-ukrainian-war-and-the-future-of-nato/

Sushma Subramanian Speaks About Book and Article on Podcasts

by

Associate Professor of Communication Sushma Subramanian

Associate Professor of Communication Sushma Subramanian

Associate Professor of Communication and Digital Studies Sushma Subramanian has appeared on several podcasts to talk about her book How to Feel: The Science and Meaning of Touch and her article, “Who Gets the Child?,” which ran in The Washington Post.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-gets-the-child-with-author-sushma-subramanian/id1541360422?i=1000555549830

Dean Rucker Day! Save the Date: April 20, 2022

by

Cedric Rucker, associate vice president and dean of Student Life

Cedric Rucker, associate vice president and dean of Student Life

Dear UMW Community:

In honor of Dean Cedric Rucker, who is retiring from the University of Mary Washington after thirty-three years of service this June, the University will be hosting Dean Rucker Day on Wednesday, April 20, on the second floor of the University Center from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Please come congratulate and thank Dean Rucker for representing the best of Mary Washington with his deep institutional pride, tireless cheer, and decades of service to his alma mater. There will be no official program; there will be, however, bowtie cookies, a photo booth, and most important of all, Dean Rucker himself on hand to receive our warm wishes. In addition, the dean’s favorite dishes will be offered at the Top of the UC as part of the regular lunch offering ($6.00 for faculty and staff members without a meal plan).

The entire community is welcome and encouraged to attend as calendars permit. Feel free to wear a bowtie, popped collar, and sweater-around-the-shoulders in honor of our beloved Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life.

Sincerely,

Juliette Landphair, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
University of Mary Washington

Open Forums for Candidates for Executive Director of University Communications

by

Dear UMW Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As many of you know, Anna Billingsley is retiring on April 22. Finding a successor is no easy task, but we are in the process of hiring an Executive Director of University Communications. This person will report to the President’s Office and will oversee a newly named unit, University Communications, which includes University Marketing, Digital Communications, Media and Public Relations, and Design Services.

The Executive Director of University Communications search committee has been working hard to review applications and interview candidates. We are happy to announce that we have selected two finalists for this position. Each candidate will visit campus next week for a campus tour, an open forum, and a chance to interact with key groups like the Crisis Communications Team, University Communications, and, of course, our students.

We invite you to attend an Open Forum with each candidate taking place on Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 3:00 to 3:50 p.m. in Seacobeck 145. Each candidate will deliver a brief presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.  There will be an opportunity for feedback to the search committee. We will send out information about each candidate and a feedback link first thing next week. A description of the position can be found here.

Thank you,

Jeff McClurken, President’s Office, Search Committee Chair

 

Janet Asper, Chemistry and Physics, CAS
Kelly Eury, Admissions
Melissa Jones, Student Affairs
Ken Machande, College of Business
Caitlin Moore, Athletics
Maria Schultz, Design Services
Shavonne Shorter, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Mark Thaden, Alumni Relations

Kayla Hill Named Excellent Eagle for April 2022

by

Congratulations to Kayla Hill for being recognized as USC’s Excellent Eagle for the month of April!

Maxxx Dennis nominated Kayla for this recognition in acknowledgement of her hard work helping so much of our campus community through the recent Kronos outage. We sincerely appreciate Kayla’s knowledge and assistance. Please join us in congratulating Kayla on this well-deserved recognition!

Do you have a co-worker you’d like to nominate for this award? It’s easy! Just complete the Excellent Eagle Employee Nomination Form on our website. Recipients receive a month-long reserved parking space in the lot of their choosing.

Update on Ball Circle

by

From UMW Student Affairs and Administration and Finance.

Dear Campus Community,

We are writing to update you on the status of Ball Circle since our last message. Unfortunately, the cold and rainy weather has inhibited the growth of grass as planned for April. As a result, most of Ball Circle will remain off-limits for events until Commencement.

Devil/Goat Day, scheduled for Thursday April 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will take place on Jefferson Square.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. For questions about reserving Ball Circle, please contact Events and Conferencing. For any other questions, please email Kathleen Flanagan, Manager of Student Affairs Operations.

 

From: Kathleen Flanagan (kflanaga)
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 11:35 AM
Subject: Update on Ball Circle construction and restoration

From UMW Student Affairs and Administration and Finance.

Dear Campus Community:

Thank you for your patience and support as we continue underground utility work throughout the Fredericksburg campus. While critical to our operations, infrastructure repairs over the last several months have particularly affected areas around our campus center, including Ball Circle. All of us look forward to Ball Circle’s restoration as our beautiful campus hub. In that vein, we are writing today to provide you with updates about Ball Circle as we enter the academic year’s final stretch.

  • The underground repair work under Ball Circle is wrapping up and the large hole next to the University Center has been filled. In the next week, we will be laying down sod across the affected area.
  • The sod will cover about 3/4ths of Ball Circle and will require several weeks to take root; thus, that area of Ball Circle ill remain closed off until Monday April 4.
  • After April 4, the plan is for Ball Circle to open up for general pedestrian use and enjoyment. Because of the impact on sod growth, major events planned between April 4 and April 21 will relocate to other areas of campus. Formal scheduling of events on Ball Circle between April 4 and the end of the semester (with some limitations to protect the new grass), will be handled through 25Live here.
  • Many beloved spring campus traditions typically occur on Ball Circle. In anticipation of the unsuitability of the Ball Circle grounds, the planning team for the April 9 Multicultural Fairis planning to locate most of the events and vendors to Jefferson Square, Campus Walk, and the “beach” between Randolph and Mason Halls.
  • We do anticipate that the Ball Circle grounds will be ready for Devil/Goat Day on April 21 and for Commencement on May 7.
  • Requests for reservations of Ball Circle are made here. For further questions, please email Kathleen Flanagan, Manager of Student Affairs Operations.

We will continue to update you as the semester proceeds. Again, thank you for working with us to lift up and energize Mary Washington at this critical time.

Al-Tikriti Hosts MAOW Conference

by

Mid-Atlantic Ottomanist Workshop (MAOW) MugOn April 1 and 2, the University of Mary Washington hosted the Third Annual Mid-Atlantic Ottomanist Workshop (MAOW), organized by Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti. Participants were thrilled with the University’s hosting and will remember UMW fondly as they continue their research and careers. The “hybrid” format was a challenge at times (including a Zoom bomber), but the conference featured 23 presenters, four moderators, and roughly 50 individuals who also “zoomed” in remotely from around the world over two days. Presentations came in from throughout the USA, as well as from the UK, Armenia and Turkey. Virginia colleagues from UVA, William & Mary, JMU, Washington & Lee, George Mason and VCU attended, as well as regional colleagues from Salisbury, Wake Forest, SUNY Binghamton, Rutgers University-Newark (remote), Auburn, Florida (remote), Hopkins, Princeton, NYU and Chicago.
For further information, including conference schedule and paper abstracts, feel free to check out the conference website: https://maow.umwblogs.org/.